She Never Owed Anyone Anything

Looking at the towering trees all around him and the countless Blue Silver Grass scattered throughout the forest, Tang Hao's expression seemed somewhat dazed.

Long ago, he only knew that there was such a place, which was the hometown where Ah Yin grew up as the Blue Silver Emperor before she took human form.

It was also from Ah Yin that I learned that if the Blue Silver Grass Clan lost their king, then the Blue Silver Emperor's successor, who possessed the Blue Silver Emperor Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline, would have the opportunity to awaken the complete Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline under the guidance of this forest.

However, he had never been here before.

At that time, Tang Hao was training with Tang Xiao and Ah Yin. He and Tang Xiao were both in a critical period of high spirits and rapid improvement in strength, so they were naturally focused on their training.

Later, as Ah Yin's identity was exposed, the two, who had confirmed their relationship, had to face the pursuit of the Spirit Hall and were busy fleeing, which took up most of their time.

During this time, Ah Yin didn't mention it much, so Tang Hao didn't think to ask her in detail.

Otherwise, after the other party died, he wouldn't have failed to think of sending the grass seeds back to this forest for restoration.

He first truly came here five years ago during the Spirit Master Competition, when he entered this forest to help Tang San awaken the Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul.

But this time, Tang Hao felt something strange inexplicably.

Unlike last time, he now has more information and can piece together some of the doubts.

The Blue Silver King was certain that Tang San could not awaken the Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul, and even displayed a mysterious and enigmatic demeanor, though at the time I didn't understand its true meaning. Now it seems that the other party may have seen the resurrected Ah Yin.

If that's the case, why did Ah Yin appear in Spirit City and refuse to retreat with him?

It's important to know that Ah Yin and the Spirit Hall have a deep-seated hatred for each other. She was forced to choose sacrifice by the Former Pope, Qian Xunji.

Besides, the Spirit Hall has always been considered the greatest enemy of the Soul Beast Clan. In addition, given her past interactions with the Tang Hao Tang Xiao, Ah Yin had no reason to collude with them.

It seems that all the doubts still lie with that strange and eccentric Su Cheng.

How exactly did that guy discover the location where he hid the grass seeds and Soul Bone, and by what means did he revive Ah Yin?

Was the person who appeared in Spirit City really Ah Yin, whom I knew?

The closer Tang Hao got to the depths of the forest, the more uneasy he felt, a faint shadow looming over his heart...

Within this small world shrouded by the ancient forest, Tang Hao's Spiritual Power could not extend too far.

So when he was caught off guard and saw a couple appearing not far away, he froze on the spot.

A flood of thoughts rushed into my mind, and even my brain momentarily went blank.

The couple did indeed look extremely well-matched.

The man was handsome and had a dashing and composed demeanor, while the woman was even more stunningly beautiful, with a beauty that was hard to find in the world and far surpassed that of the man beside her. However, her expression was slightly unnatural.

Looking at their clasped hands, Tang Hao's face turned deathly pale, and a sharp pain shot through his heart.

Suddenly, I had the illusion that a nightmare had come to life, and even felt dizzy and suffocated.

The scene before him left him feeling lost, yet subconsciously he also felt a sense of sudden realization.

I had a strange, absurd feeling of "So that's how it is, just as I expected."

But in the next moment, an even more intense emotion swept in like a landslide and tsunami, utterly destroying the doubts, fears, pain, and most of the rationality in my heart.

That was a raging fire of fury!

No man could tolerate or face such a situation!

The flames of betrayal by his beloved burned wildly through every nerve in Tang Hao's body; veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes turned bloodshot.

"Ah... Silver?"

A low, hoarse question slowly escaped his lips.

Looking at that beautiful face he had been longing for not far away, he couldn't sense even a trace of joy from her as she saw him again.

There was no imprisonment, nor did they suffer in Spirit City.

She looks even more beautiful than before.

That wasn't a change in appearance, but a world of difference in temperament.

However, at this moment she was avoiding his gaze.

There may have been some guilt, but no melancholy, no regret, and no surprise or emotion at seeing oneself again.

She stood there quietly, her slender hand held tightly by another man, a man almost the same age as her son.

Anyone looking at them at this moment would think that Su Cheng and Ah Yin were the more like a couple.

On the other side, Tang Hao, unkempt and disheveled, seemed completely out of place with the two of them.

Tang Hao is certainly not ugly.

In this world, appearance is often linked to talent, and Martial Soul Bloodline can, to a certain extent, enhance Soul Master's appearance.

It can be said that, apart from extremely special Martial Soul, almost no Soul Master with good Martial Soul aptitude is ugly.

In that instant, he suddenly regretted not taking the time to tidy up his appearance.

Although nowadays, factors such as appearance are no longer important.

"Long time no see, Tang Hao. I let you off the hook last time, but I didn't expect you to dare to come here again."

Ah Yin didn't seem inclined to speak; it was Su Cheng who spoke.

His voice was flat, without any outward emotion, and he simply stared intently at Tang Hao.

Under those eyes, Tang Hao felt a chill run down his spine, which even lessened his anger and helped him regain some of his rationality.

His strength is considerable, though not top-tier, and his foundation has not fully recovered from the damage.

But he was once one of the most outstanding individuals in the world, and he could clearly sense how terrifying Su Cheng was at this moment.

"It's even stronger..."

Tang Hao took a deep breath, trying to calm his chaotic mind before making any further moves.

At this point, he could no longer deceive himself.

That person is indeed Ah Yin, but he may no longer be Ah Yin to me.

She clearly still recognized herself.

The hint of guilt in his eyes was undeniable.

The tenderness, admiration, and love of the past are gone; besides guilt, there is more determination and composure.

Clearly, she was not forced, and this was not Spirit City, but the Blue Silver Grass Forest.

If she was truly forced to be with Su Cheng, how could this place be so quiet and peaceful, without any trace of fighting?

No matter how strong Su Cheng is, it is impossible for him to subdue all the Soul Beast in this forest silently.

At this moment, Tang Hao suddenly narrowed his eyes and noticed that something was wrong with Ah Yin.

Her entire body was covered in a well-fitting palace-style long dress.

Her graceful and slender figure was perfectly accentuated by the elaborate and gorgeous dress.

But beyond these appearances, the other person's slightly disheveled sideburns and the numerous hickeys on his fair neck did not escape his eyes.

Just now, Ah Yin, with her complicated feelings, had neither the time nor the inclination to tidy up these details.

Or rather, at the time she was only concerned with Su Cheng's feelings and hadn't considered how to face Tang Hao's sudden arrival.

"!!"

A tremendous rage exploded in his heart, and Tang Hao's mentality completely collapsed.

The next moment, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from his body.

A massive Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his hand, and nine optimally configured Soul Ring flashed and shimmered.

In particular, the Ninth Soul Ring, which was 100,000 years old, emitted a dazzling scarlet light.

Despite the powerful Martial Soul and Soul Ring Configuration, Su Cheng remained unmoved and showed no intention of summoning his Martial Soul.

He simply said, "Are you sure you want to fight me?"

Without making many movements, his entire demeanor changed instantly as soon as he finished speaking.

Just like unleashing its Martial Soul Avatar, it transformed into a towering, majestic sword that reached the heavens and the earth, standing tall and imposing in front of it.

But in reality, he was still himself, neither using his domain nor his Martial Soul.

Tang Hao's forward momentum faltered, his expression shifting rapidly.

He hesitated.

Seeing this, Su Cheng raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile appearing on his face.

There are only three kinds of people in the world who can be fearless: the mentally unstable madman, the brain-dead fool, and the mindless dead.

As the saying goes, "Ignorance is bliss."

Because they did not understand its power, they felt no fear.

Many people's so-called "bravery" actually stems from ignorance; they don't understand the terror between life and death, nor do they comprehend the difference in strength between themselves and others.

This kind of "bravery" is not true courage at all; in the end, it's nothing more than recklessness and willfulness.

Twenty years ago, Tang Hao might have swung that hammer without hesitation, because back then he knew absolutely nothing.

But now, he no longer has that impulse.

Time eroded his will, and the various costs taught him how to be a person.

The false aura bestowed upon him by his powerful sect and top-tier talent has long since crumbled.

On the contrary, Ah Yin, who was standing next to Su Cheng, looked at the 100,000 Year Spirit Ring that was flashing red light, moved her lips slightly, and subconsciously turned her head to look at Su Cheng's expression.

Su Cheng didn't notice her subtle movement, but Tang Hao, who was directly opposite her and dared not make any rash moves, did.

Tang Hao's eyes lit up, as if he had thought of something, and he said in a trembling voice, "Ah Yin, have you forgotten? The Ninth Soul Ring on my Clear Sky Hammer is the power you bestowed upon me to save my life and my son's when we faced the Martial Soul Hall Pursuit together! It is a testament to our relationship! Over the years, I have never forgotten that day even for a single day!"

Ah Yin's pretty face turned pale upon hearing this.

This is the kind of thing she fears hearing most right now, especially when it's mentioned in front of Su Cheng.

It wasn't because she regretted the sacrifice or couldn't bear to part with the power, but because she was worried that Su Cheng might harbor resentment because of it.

This past relationship is the knot in her heart now.

Men and women often have different attitudes when it comes to relationships.

Most men are passionate and loyal, while women are devoted yet ruthless.

When they love someone, they often give their all, but when they truly sever ties with their former love, they can be far more decisive than men.

When Ah Yin began to accept Su Cheng's feelings and, over the years, repeatedly reflected on and weighed them, gradually facing the changes in her inner emotions, the core she cared about had already completely changed.

She glanced at Su Cheng again.

However, Su Cheng clearly didn't care about those things; he just shook his head with a disappointed look.

"Tang Hao, is possessing such a Soul Ring something to be proud of? If you had thrown a punch at me directly, I could have praised you and applauded your courage. Or if you had turned around and left, I could have looked at you with more respect, showing the rationality to suppress my anger and humiliation. But using these things to play the emotional card is truly disgusting."

"What do you know?! You're nothing but a despicable person who breaks up other people's families!"

Tang Hao gritted his teeth and roared in a low voice.

"Destroying a family?" A hint of sarcasm flashed in Su Cheng's eyes. "That's your own family, your own sect. Even the Soul Ring you gained from hunting Soul Beast were for you two brothers, boosting your own Soul Power. As for what Ah Yin wants, have you ever really cared?"

He paused for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "Now that I've come this far, I have to ask you a question. Knowing her identity, why did you parade her around, attracting attention? Is it that your cultivation advancement is more important than her safety? Or did you already plan to use her as a stepping stone for your advancement?"

Upon hearing this, Ah Yin, who was standing next to him, was slightly taken aback and subconsciously looked up at Tang Hao.

Although she has let go of those things, it was, after all, an experience for which she once paid with her life.

"You're talking nonsense!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Hao flew into a rage, his eyes turning bloodshot.

"We agreed to return to the Clear Sky Sect to get married, but instead we were attacked and hunted down by your Spirit Hall people! Your Spirit Hall even issued an edict afterward to condemn the Clear Sky Sect! My father died because of this, and I couldn't even see him one last time! For Ah Yin, I am willing to give up everything!"

"Give up everything for Ah Yin?" Su Cheng let out a soft laugh, whether it was surprise or sarcasm.

"I don't know if you really think that way, or if you're just comforting yourself. But tell me, what did Ah Yin actually get from you? Even though she died for you back then, what did you do for her? Ha, drown your sorrows in alcohol to commemorate her?"

"Not to mention trying to revive her and make up for your mistakes, you don't even seem to have the courage to risk your life to avenge her, do you?"

"Also, in the years since Spirit City appeared, where have you been hiding? Why didn't you think about her situation?"

"Don't tell me you're doing this for Tang San's sake, and make me look down on you. I know very well what kind of life that guy had when he was a kid."

After he finished speaking, Tang Hao did not immediately refute him.

He just kept staring at Su Cheng with bloodshot eyes, his hand tightly gripping the handle of the enormous Clear Sky Hammer, clearly not convinced.

"Tang Hao, if you had known beforehand that your actions would bring such disaster to the sect, what choice would you have made? In your heart, which of these three is more important: life, the sect, and Ah Yin? Can you figure it out yourself?"

"Everyone has their own choices and responsibilities, and your actions are none of my business. However, when you cannot bear the consequences of your words and deeds, and after an accident occurs, you cannot make amends in any other way, isn't it ridiculous to still be spouting nonsense here?"

"Shut up!" Tang Hao suddenly roared in anger. "You have no idea what we've been through, and we have a child together!"

At this point, he turned to look at Ah Yin, his eyes filled with expectation mixed with a hint of pleading, "Ah Yin, Xiao San is still waiting for you. He's our son, have you forgotten?"

"Ha, what a ridiculous argument," Su Cheng said indifferently.

"'Because you and I have a past, because we've been through life and death together, because we have a child together, you should love me forever!' Is that right? What, are you trying to morally blackmail me?"

"Why should she? Tang Hao, before you say that, ask yourself if you're worthy. She should love a specific person, not some concept or a story!"

"Let me tell you, it's always been you who owe her, but she has never owed anyone anything!"

These words, seemingly spoken by Su Cheng to Tang Hao, were actually meant for Ah Yin to hear during this confrontation.

He had absolutely no interest in educating such a man.

Whether the other party is right or wrong has absolutely nothing to do with him.